My family entered plastics distribution and fabrication in 1968. Dad listened to the guy in "The Graduate" and bought in. I was a teen with access to a shop filled with Plexiglas® Acrylic sheets, Lexan®, Plastic Sheets & Fiberglass sheet. Add UHMW, PTFE, plastic glue, Multiwall polycarbonate, Seaboard, architectural and engineering plastics. 40 years later I educate our team on new materials and processes - to customers worldwide. It’s new every day.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

You have seen it at the pump. We see it at the plant! The price increases for plastics just keep on coming with no relief in sight. After implementing 6% price increases for acrylics (Plexiglas, Optix, Acrylite, Perspex, Lucite etc.) this month, I received a note today to prepare for a salvo of 8% increases by end of March. And more on the near horizon.

This relates to PLEXIGLASS acrylic sheets - material with a chemical name of polymethyl methacrylate or PMMA.

What the heck is going on? Worldwide supply of the base chemicals needed in the plastics industry are in SHORT SUPPLY.

The economies of China and India are fueling this DEMAND for PLASTICS and associated chemicals. The largest auto markets in the world are there. And of course, manufacturing plants that use the chemicals that produce the sheet, rod, tube and film... that are consumed in those countries!

The world economies continue to change.

Our suppliers tell us to brace for more increases throughout 2011. "Substantial increases".

Probably a good time to purchase that plastic you were budgeting since next month it's more expensive.